Assignment Task: Utilize Weyerhaeuser as a focus company and review their History and News Room sections which will help you better understand their business. In 2008, the company sold its timber manufacturing and distribution operations in Australia. Assume that you are part of the management team and are involved in discussions for planned re-expansion into Australia and respond to the following questions:
1. Assume that the current strategy of operating in the U.S. and Canada is now being viewed as restricting sales. Most of the executive management team is interested in pursuing an opportunity to re-expand into Australia. You are part of the discussion and feel that it is possible to convince the remaining executive management team members based on overall globalization progress. Describe the three key factors which facilitate the globalization of business.
2. Discuss the management-related aspects of the Australian operation. Discuss methods for evaluating global management environments by addressing the following:
A. Utilize Hofstede's Model of National Culture in the textbook to address the following:
- Power Distance: define this dimension and indicate if Australia would score high, medium, or low for this category. Based on this outcome, discuss how your employer would design the Australian organizational structure.
- Individualism and Collectivism: define this dimension and indicate if Australia would score high, medium, or low for this category. Based on this outcome, indicate the type of relationships that your employer should expect with its Australian employees.
- Uncertainty Avoidance: define this dimension and indicate if Australia would score high, medium, or low for this category. Based on this outcome, indicate the type of entrepreneurship and innovation performance that your employer should expect from its Australian employees.
- Masculinity: define this dimension and indicate if Australia would score high, medium or low for this category. Based on this outcome, indicate the type of managers' characteristics that your employer should expect from the Australian employees hired into these roles.
B. Use the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) model in the textbook to address the following:
- Indicate the "Country Cluster" that Australia is classified under.
- Assume that your employer utilizes three types of leadership throughout its existing operations. In order to determine the most preferred approach in Australia, define the following leadership styles and indicate how they are ranked according to Australia's Country Cluster:
- Participative
- Humane-oriented
- Self-protective
3. Provide options for entering this new market. Characterize strategies available for global expansion by addressing the following:
- Exporting: define how this strategy could be utilized and include any advantages and/or disadvantages of this approach.
- Strategic Alliances: define how this strategy could be utilized and include any advantages and/or disadvantages of this approach.
- Foreign Direct Investment: define how this strategy could be utilized and include any advantages and/or disadvantages of this approach.